The Patriots' offseason is much shorter than it has been in recent years. The legal tampering period of free agency is less and three weeks away, and a highly-successful 2025 season has set the table for a jam-packed Spring in Foxborough. Here are the biggest storylines that bear watching:
1. Christian Gonzalez Extension Locking down the 24-year-old Pro Bowl cornerback may be the biggest deal the Patriots get done this spring. The team can—and should—offer Gonzalez an extension that reflects the master class he put on in Super Bowl 60. He was the best player in a New England uniform in that game. Gonzalez is likely to reset the market at his position with a contract that will exceed the earnings of both Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. If the Patriots drag their feet and opt for his fifth-year option, they risk alienating the player and ultimately paying more.
2. Two Starters Tied Up in Legal Drama Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs was arraigned in Dedham District Court last week, where he pleaded "not guilty" to a felony charge of strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from an alleged dispute with a private chef. He is expected back in court on April 1. His attorney, Mitchell Schuster, is confident the receiver will be "completely exonerated" and does not expect the case to go to trial.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore is scheduled for an arraignment on March 9 on a charge of assault and battery on a family or household member. That misdemeanor concerns an alleged incident from August of last year. Both hearings were postponed from their original dates, which were scheduled ahead of the Super Bowl.
3. Stefon Diggs’ Contract New England has over $41 million in cap space for the 2026 roster, but they may look to free up more. Diggs, who signed as a free agent last spring, carries the second-biggest cap hit on the roster at $26.5 million. The receiver had a successful 1,000-yard season, even after returning from a previous ACL tear.
Reworking his contract could get interesting. At 32, Diggs realistically knows there are only so many big contracts left. He has also been a mentor to younger receivers like Kayshon Boutte, who cited Diggs’ success as a roadmap for his own ambitions. Diggs has $1.7 million guaranteed this year and two years left on his deal. However, if the Patriots opted out before June 1, they would save $16.8 million while taking a dead cap hit of $9.7 million. With free agency currently a receiver desert, New England must decide if they can find more explosive talent elsewhere.
4. Defensive Coordinator Vacancy Who will call plays for the defense in 2026? Terrell Williams was Mike Vrabel’s pick for the role in 2025, but a battle with cancer kept him sidelined. He is now moving into a "high-ranking" team staff role, according to NFL Network Insiders.
The job may go to Zak Kuhr, the inside linebackers coach who filled in for most of the season. He grew tremendously in the role, with the defense finishing the regular season ranked 11th-lowest in EPA/play. Per the NFL’s Rooney Rule, the Patriots must interview at least two external minority candidates before making a final hire.
5. Offensive Line Considerations The Patriots’ offensive line grew close in 2025, becoming known at Foxborough restaurants for their signature Shirley Temple orders. However, the group’s composition may change. Vrabel intends to keep Will Campbell at left tackle, despite the 14 pressures and a sack he allowed in Super Bowl 60 while playing through a meniscus sprain. His size and arm length have dogged him since the 2025 Draft.
Campbell’s interior neighbor, rookie Jared Wilson, also struggled in the Super Bowl and his starting spot bears watching. Wilson played center in college, and current center Garrett Bradbury carries a $6.9 million cap hit with no remaining guaranteed money. Meanwhile, right tackle Morgan Moses turns 35 next month. Between an aging tackle depth chart and a tight end room (Hooper - a pending free agent - and Henry) on the wrong side of 30, New England could prioritize these positions in the upcoming draft.
